WO1991019070A1

WO1991019070A1 - Architectural fittings such as windows and doors

Info

Publication number: WO1991019070A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/000853
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen William Emanuel
Original assignee: Stephen William Emanuel
Priority date: 1990-05-29
Filing date: 1991-05-29
Publication date: 1991-12-12
Also published as: GB9011906D0; AU7988591A

Abstract

Architectural fittings are described, in which an openable unit, such as a window or door, opens with an initial movement at an angle to its plane and then slides along in a direction coplanar with it. The door or window (4, 5) can be mounted on two corner suports (18) which run in straight tracks (16) with a bent off end section, and two swivellable corner supports (18) which run on rollers in straight tracks. Stops in the tracks may cause the swivellable supports to swivel, thus moving the door or window (4, 5) obliquely relative to its plane. The unit is of particular application as a roof window, coplanar with the pitch of a sloping roof (12).

Description

ARCHITECTURAL FITTINGS SUCH AS WINDOWS AND DOORS

This invention relates to architectural fittings such as windows and doors.

There are two basic ways of fitting doors and windows into building structures, viz. by hinging or pivoting the door or window or by providing a track in which the door or window can slide. A disadvantage of many track systems is that if the door or window is multi-section, the two sections cannot be in the same plane, i.e. one is permanently arranged to slide past the other. This can be unsightly and difficult to render weathertight. However, sliding arrangements are preferred in a number of areas, particularly since they do not give rise to so much obstruction of the surrounding area when they are open.

These problems have been appreciated for many years. Thus, British Patent Specification 470712 discloses a system of sliding windows or doors where the position of such windows or doors may be moved along pairs of grooves or channels including inclined linking grooves or channels enabling two adjacent windows or doors to be overlapped or rendered coplanar. Later developments such as disclosed in British Published Specifications 2169335, 2194578 and 2220968 likewise rely on doors running on or in tracks which are generally elongate and parallel to the plane of the door or window but which have bent off or angled off portions enabling two adjacent doors or windows to be arranged coplanar or one behind the other.

British Patent Specification 1353483 discloses a vehicle sliding door system in which a door is suspended on runners which may be displaced transversely to their elongate extent enabling the door to be moved transversely to the extent of the plane of the door to fit it into an opening in vehicle bodywork. The runner tracks may be suspended on a parallelogram linkage so that they may lie wholly within the external contour of the bodywork of the vehicle when the door is closed and lie outside the general external contour of the bodywork of the vehicle when the door is opened.

In all of the arrangements disclosed in these various patent specifications, the door or window is illustrated as extending in a generally vertical plane. While this may be conventional, it is not always the case. In one particular application, viz. roof lights, i.e. windows set in roofs, the plane of the window may be substantially inclined from the vertical, e.g. by 45° or more. The various systems disclosed in the patent specifications noted above can not be happily adapted for use in such circumstances, particularly having regard to the fact that moving an inclined window transverse to its plane involves lifting or lowering the window. Particularly if the window is of large extent, lifting it requires a substantial amount of force. Instead, windows set in roofs are conventionally hinged sashes. Although hinged arrangements are perhaps more easily rendered weatherproof than sliding sash arrangemen s, hinged sash windows where the hinge is at the top edge of the window are heavy to operate and difficult effectively to open wide. The weight problem may be alleviated by pivoting the sash about a horizontal axis central to the window, but this has the disadvantage of obstructing the space within the attic or roof room where the window is opened.

We have now found that by careful design, single or multi unit sliding doors and windows may be made which, when closed, provide an effective weatherseal, present a satisfactory and neat appearance and which can be opened easily by the user, or by appropriate remote controlled mechanisms requiring relatively low power.

According to a first feature of the present invention, there is provided an architectural fitment such as a window or door having a moveable frame, optionally glazed, set in fixed tracks defining a pathway along which the frame may be slid, wherein the frame is mounted in the tracks via at least one member pivoted in the moveable frame and having an end remote from the frame and engaging the track in such a fashion that the movement of the frame at the start of opening or end of closing of the aperture normally sealed by the frame is in a direction oblique to the plane of the frame, the remainder of the sliding movement being along the tracks and essentially in the plane of the frame.

Such an approach is particularly useful in the case of windows having two or more sections, one or more of which is openable, and which are set to lie substantially coplanar and in a plane parallel to the surrounding roof surface of a pitched roof. The window frames may be set in an outer frame which may be fitted into a pitched roof and weatherproofed about its periphery in known fashion. The roof covering may be an overlap type such as tiles or shingles, or may be a continuous covering, e.g. of felt.

The movement at the beginning of opening or ending of closing may be achieved by suitable configuration of the tracks on which the moveable frame is mounted, and of the pivotable member(s) . For example, two or each of the four corners of a rectangular frame may be mounted on a swivellable mounting with one end set in the track. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the frame is mounted in two separate sets of tracks, with one set of tracks having curved end sections and the other set of tracks being straight and having the four corners of the frame mounted therein via swivellable legs.

Preferably, the fitting includes spring means adapted to store energy as the window or door is pulled into its closed position and to release that energy and offload the door or window as it is opened.

Preferably, the frame is supported via wheels which run in the tracks.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the frame is mounted on legs which are swivellable about the corners of the frame and spring loaded, the opposite ends of the legs running in tracks including stop means restricting the travel of the legs along the track, such restriction then enabling the door or window frame to be moved only with swivelling of the legs about the door or window frame and corresponding movement of the door or window frame at an angle to the plane thereof. Mounting the door or window frame at all four corners gives overall even support to the frame which can be correspondingly larger than a frame supported only at one side or at two pivot points in conventional fashion.

The movable frame and trackwork may constitute the entire window or door assembly, or the assembly may include one or more fixed panels coplanar with the window or door frame when shut, which may be, e.g. a fixed window section or an architectural panel of some other type.

According to a specific feature of the present invention, there is provided a preferred form of window or door assembly wherein:

the window or door consists of an optionally glazed mobile rectangular panel set within an outer frame

two guide tracks are situated either side of the mobile panel wherein:

each guide track is attached to the outer frame

the majority of each guide track is parallel to the plane of the panel

one guide track either side of the mobile panel is curved at its end

each corner of the mobile panel has an arm carrying a roller support at its end distant from the panel

the roller support being guided in one of the tracks

and wherein at least two of the roller supports are springloaded, swivellably mounted supports enabling the panel to be moved towards and away from a position coplanar with the tracks with swivelling of the supports.

At least some of the roller supports are preferably captive in the guide tracks attached to the outer frame. The swivellably mounted supports may each comprise a bent bar on a pivot and a tension spring may be attached between the bar and the frame of the panel, or other equivalent spring means may be used.

Each mobile panel may have an appropriate catch system attached to it. The catch may engage with a catchplate attached either to the outer frame or another panel. When the catch is engaged then the fitting is closed, and all the panels are coplanar. The catch may be a simple claw type catch or, e.g. an espagnolette. Two or more catch systems may be provided, e.g. one each side of a single sash.

When the catch is released, then the mobile panel may be arranged to move in an arc at least one panel depth in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panel, and a little distance in the direction that the panel is to move in. This will enable the panel to pass across, e.g. an adjacent fixed panel without being obstructed by it. To engage the catch, the mobile panel is propelled by an operator on its rollers in the closure direction. In the preferred embodiment, the supports at the front corners are fixed and the guide tracks that hold the rollers of the front corners are curved at their ends so that the front corners move through a corresponding arc to the rear corners as the panel is shut to lie engaged with the outer frame all round. The rear corners move in an arc due to the swivelling of the supports as the rollers encounter a stop member set in the track. When the panel is in its closed position, the catch mechanism on the leading edge of the panel as it closes may engage a catchplate, and the catch mechanism may be one with an appropriate camming or other action to pull the panel tightly into contact with the outer frame and lock it in position. Other camming mechanisms may be provided to ensure that, when closed, the camming action ensures a draughtproof seal all about the periphery of the panel.

In an alternative, all four corners of the frame may have swivellable supports, and the guide tracks may be straight. The supports may be linked in pairs with one spring member associated with each pair. Just one external track each side may receive two rollers.

The guide tracks that hold the rollers may be provided with stops in the track at a certain point to cooperate with swivelling mounted rollers running in the track. The position of the point is chosen so that, on meeting the stop, the roller is stopped, and the panel, continuing to move in the same direction, pivots about the now stopped roller and moves into the final closure position, whereon the catch is engaged. The stops may be retractable. With springloaded bar mounted corner rollers, the action of pivoting about the roller forces the bar to pivot relative to the frame and extend the tension spring. The energy stored in the spring provides the energy to move the panel out of the plane of the fixed panel the next time the catch is released. The strength of the spring required is dependent on the work done by the spring in moving the panel from one plane to another. Thus, the required strength of the spring increases as the angle between the plane into which the window or door is set and the vertical increases.

This apparatus can be used in windows or doors with one or more mobile panels. These mobile panels may have their guide tracks set so that, when the panel is moved along the track from ts closed position, it rests beside other fixed panels, or, if so desired, moves outside the outer frame and rests beside the surface into which the fitting is set. This last method of use is especially useful if the opening is to be a door, as virtually all the area removed from the building surface is then usable to pass through. If, in the case of a roof window, the tracks extend across the adjacent roof surface, the arrangement is highly advantageous in that the window opening may be fully emptied of the frame for maximum ventilation and unobstructed vision.

The apparatus according to the invention also avoids damaging the appearance of the building into which it is set by avoiding the unsightly projection of windows and doors out of the plane of the building's surface when the door or window is open, while simultaneously avoiding any projection into the interior of the building. The window or door frames may be made of any appropriate materials as desired, e.g. wood, aluminium alloy extrusion or plastics extrusion, e.g. UPVC.

The invention is illustrated by way of example, with reference to a preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a general diagram of a window according to the present invention set into a pitched roof, viewed from the outside in a partially open position.

Figure 2 shows a general diagram of the window of Figure 1 viewed from the inside in a partially open position.

Figure 3 shows a section AA on Figure 1 with the window closed.

Figure 4 shows the section AA on Figure 1 with the window partially open.

Figure 5 shows a section CC on Figure 1 with the window closed.

Figure 6 shows the section CC on Figure 1 with the window partially open.

Figure 7 shows a section EE on Figure 1 with the window closed.

Figures 8a and 8b show in horizontal and vertical section respectively a catch device for holding members of adjacent sash frames as desired; Figure 9 shows diagrammatically a version of the window according to the present invention with swivellable rollers at all four corners;

Figures 10 and 11 show sections through variants of the track in which the openable window runs, with details of alternative roller constructions, and

Figure 12 shows a vertical section in the same plane as Figure 8b showing a security bolt.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, these show a double window made up of a pair of double glazed sashes 5, 7, each formed of a double glazed unit of glass 2, 6 set in a frame 4, 8, respectively. The sashes are located, one fixed and one movably, in an outer frame 10 which is set in a pitched roof 12. Sash 5 is supported in the outer frame 10 via four legs 18 attached near each corner 9 or 11 of frame 4. Each leg carries a roller 20 or 38 (see Figures 3 and 4). Rollers 20 and 38 are each captive in a guide track 14 or 16 respectively, which tracks are attached to outer frame 10. The tracks may be fitted with removable plates to enable release of the captive rollers, e.g. during maintenance or installation.

The guide tracks 14 are straight and attached either side of the fixed sash 7 on the outside of the outer frame 10. Guide tracks 16 are attached to the outer frame 10 either side of the closed position of the sash 5. In the closed position, frame 4 seats in the outer frame 10, between tracks 16, save for the track ends which turn to run toward the interior of the roof space at their ends for reasons explained below. In the closed position, the frame seats against a compression seal of known type arranged to form a draughtproof seal.

The leg mechanisms 18 near corners 9 are swivellably mounted to enable one side of the sash 5 to be lifted on opening the window, the mechanisms rotating about their ends located in the guide track 14. The legs 18 at corners 11 are rigid.

Figures 3 and 4 show in more detail the legs 18 near corners 9, when the window is fully closed and partially or fully open respectively. The leg 18 consists of an angled bar 24. The bar 24 pivots around a pivot 26 attached to the frame 4. The longer portion of the bar 24 has attached to it a roller 20 on a short axle 22. The other end of the bar 24 is biased by an attached tension spring 30, the other end of which is attached to a flange 32 of the frame 4. The rotation of bar 24 is limited by a transverse stop bar 27. The spring 30, flange 32 and the shorter straight portion of bar 24 are protected from the elements by a cover 34, which may either be an extension of the frame 4, or separate and joined to frame 4. A slot is provided to allow the bar 24 to pass through cover 34.

Figures 5 and 6 show the legs 18 near corners 11, when the window is fully closed and partially open respectively. The leg 18 consists of a straight, rigid bar 36 joined at one end to the frame 4, and carrying at its other end an axle 37 on which is a freely rotatable roller 38.

As the window is closed (moving from the position shown in Figures 4 and 6 to that shown in Figures 3 and 5) , rollers 22 come into contact with a stop 15 in guide tracks 14, forcing the bar 24 to rotate about the now fixed axle 22. This pulls the trailing edge of the closing sash in towards the room at the same time as the rollers 38 move around the curved section of the guide track 16. This brings the whole sash 5 to lie coplanar with sash 7. The sash 5 may be fixed in this position by means of a suitable latch. On opening, the latch is released and the movement is reversed. The action of the spring 30 assists in opening. The strength of the spring 30 should be chosen depending on the weight of the sash and the pitch of the roof, the spring needing to be adjusted and/or stronger the heavier the sash and/or the shallower the pitch. For example, strong or multiple springs may be needed for low pitched roofs, e.g. 30° or less pitch, while very light springs are needed for steeply pitched roofs, e.g. for a roof window set in a mansard. Alternatively or additionally the mounting of the spring may be adjustable. Thus the distance between the point at which spring 30 engages bar 24 and the pivot 26 may be varied by providing a series of possible engagement holes along bar 24. Alternatively or additionally the fixing of the end of spring 30 remote from bar 24 does not have to be in flange 32. Instead, the end of the spring may engage over a rod which may be installed at varying distances from flange 32.

Stop 15 is preferably adjustable in position to enable adjustment of frame 4 in frame 10, and retractable or removable as a whole to assist in mounting or dismounting the frames 4 and 8 or to enable frame 4 to pass across the front of the opening without being drawn closed, in order to provide ventilation while protecting the interior from rain. Figure 7 shows details of the ventilation gap 40 provided at the abutment of frames 4 and 8. Angled section 42, attached to frame 4, spans the gap 40 with its free edge slotting into a channel 44 on frame 8. Air passes between gap 40 and the outside via a series of holes 46 in the section 42. The flow of air between the room and gap 40 is regulated by means of a slat 48 hinged on to frame 6 by a hinge 50. To adjust the flow of air, slat 48 is opened or closed with the aid of a finger slot 52. Slat 48 may run from top to bottom of the frame as one piece or may be divided into two or more sections for more control. Rain and the like is prevented from entering the gap 40 by an outer strip 49 which covers the section 42 and also serves to hold unit 2 in frame 4. Any rain passing the edge of strip 49 enters the channel 44 and drains down. The other edges of inner and outer frames 4, 10 may be protected from precipitation similarly; cover strips may be arranged to deflect water into suitable self-draining channels. If desired, the roller tracks may form part of such a drainage system.

Figures 8a and 8b show a catch mechanism adapted to hold the frame members firmly together when the window is closed. Figure 8b is a diagrammatic section along the lines X-X in Figure 8a, and Figure 8a is a diagrammatic section along lines Y-Y in Figure 8b. As the moving frame is closed, a pin 66 is captured by a sprung latch 68 which is pivotally mounted in a housing 70 attached to frame member 8. This holds the frame members firmly together. When it is desired to open the window, slat 48 is hinged open to enable access to a snib 72 which is manually pushed in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 8b to lower catch 68 and allow pin 66 to escape as the window is opened. The latch mechanism operates automatically as the window is shut, provided the window is moved towards its final seating position sufficiently firmly. This occurs as the rollers 20 impact on the stops 15, and swing the trailing edge of the frame in. The trailing edge impacts gently on the resilient sealing strip, usually of rubber, and set in frame 10 to provide a weatherproof seal. The strip is omitted in the drawings for the sake of clarity. The dimensions are such that at maximum impact, i.e.as the frame 4 stops moving, pin 66 has just depressed latch 68 and moved sufficiently far for latch 68 to rise and hold pin 66 captive. At the same time as the frame 4 is latched into its finally closed position by the latch mechanism, cooperating projections 76 and recesses 78 on frame 4 and frame 10 respectively engage to seat the frame 4 tightly in place, pressed resiliently against rubber weathersealing strips set in the frame 10 about three of its sides. The cooperating projections and recesses also reduce the strain on the tracks 14 and 16 by seating frame 4 firmly in frame 10.

Figure 9 shows diagrammatically a top view of an alternative construction according to the invention in which all four corners of a sash 53 are mounted via legs 54 pivoted to the sash frame. Legs 54 each bear rollers 20 and both run in a single track 14. Legs 54 are linked in pairs by two connecting rods 55 pivoted to legs 54 at their ends. Only the legs 54 to the right in the drawing are spring offloaded by springs in housings 34. The member 59 on the right of Figure 9 is either the side of frame 10 or it may be the side of a fixed sash unit. In the drawing, the position of sash 53 partly open is shown in full lines, the closed position in dashed lines. Figures 10 and 11 show two possible roller constructions which may run in the tracks 14, 16, and which are designed specifically to run in the upper track 14 or 16. The rollers may be simpler for the lower track if desired. In Figure 10, the roller is divided into two ball bearings 80, 82. Bearing 80 has a chamfered end 84 which gives a smooth running support surface, particularly important when the installation is in an inclined plane. Bearing 82, particularly at certain angles of installation, runs against part 83 of rail 14 which holds the roller captive. Bearings 82 and 80 thus rotate in opposite senses as the frame 4 is slid along the track, giving good support to the frame and avoiding binding. The construction shown in Figure 11 has one end of axle 37 broadened out to provide on part of a thrust race 86 having a set of generally radial rollers within it. Again, the end of the outer member of the thrust race is chamfered at 84. A protective freely rotatable bush 88 set on axle 37 assists in locating the roller by engagement with the edge of track 16 at 89.

Figure 12 shows an additional security feature in the form of a bolt which can be extended into track 16 when the window frame 4 is closed. The bolt is set in a housing 90 located behind hinged slat 48 and in which it slides. By pushing down on a tag 92, the end of the bolt can be inserted into track 16. The end of the bolt is inclined at 94 to give a camming action and assist in drawing frame 4 snugly into its closed position as the bolt is inserted into the track 16.

The window illustrated and described above may be varied widely to suit the particular circumstances of installation. In particular, much variation may be made in the dimensions, proportions and number of sections. Many variations are also possible in the details of water or weatherproofing, drainage channels and the like, in particular to suit the style of the fitting and to achieve the closure or weatherproofing desired. The windows according to the present invention are suited to adaptation to the surrounding architecture of the building without difficulty.

Claims

1. An architectural fitment such as a window or door having a movable frame set in fixed tracks defining a pathway along which the frame may be slid, wherein the frame is mounted in the tracks via at least one member pivoted in the frame and having an end remote from the frame and engaging the track in such a fashion that the movement of the frame at the start of opening or end of closing of the aperture normally sealed by the frame is in a direction oblique to the plane of the frame, the remainder of the sliding movement being along the tracks and essentially in the plane of the frame.

2. An architectural fitment according to Claim 1 and being a window unit having two or more sections, one or more of which is openable and which are set to lie, when closed, substantially coplanar.

3. An architectural fitment according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the movement at the beginning of opening or end of closing is achieved by suitable configuration of the tracks on which the frame is mounted and/or by means of mounting the corners of the frame on swivellable mountings.

4. An architectural fitment according to Claim 3, wherein the frame is mounted in two separate sets of tracks, with one set of tracks having curved end sections and the other set of tracks being straight and having the corners of the frame mounted therein via swivellable legs.

5. An architectural fitment according to claim 3 wherein all four corners of the frame are set on swivellable supports and the supports are linked to form two pairs of linked supports.

6. An architectural fitment according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 and including swivellable mountings incorporating spring means adapted to store energy as the window or door is pulled into its closed position and to release that energy and offload the door or window as it is opened.

7. An architectural fitment according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the frame is mounted at or near at least two corners thereof on legs which are swivellable about the corners of the frame and springloaded, the ends of the legs remote from the frame running in tracks including stop means restricting the travel of the legs along the track, such restriction then enabling the frame to be moved only with swivelling of the legs about the frame and corresponding movement of the frame at an angle to the plane thereof.

8. A window or door assembly wherein:

- the window or door consists of an optionally glazed mobile rectangular panel set within an outer frame

two guide tracks are situated either side of the mobile panel wherein:

each guide track is attached to the outer frame

the majority of each guide track is parallel to the plane of the panel

one guide track either side of the mobile panel is curved at its end

each corner of the mobile panel has an arm carrying a rolier support at its end distant from the panel

- the roller support being guided in one of the tracks

9. A window or door assembly according to Claim 8, wherein the roller supports are captive in the guide tracks attached to the outer frame and the swivellably mounted supports each comprise a bent bar on a pivot and a tension spring attached between the bar and the frame of the panel.

10. An architectural fitment according to any one of

Claims 1 to 7 or a door or window assembly according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the movable frame or panel respectively carries a catch member adapted to pull the frame or panel into a sealed position and hold it closed.

11. An architectural fitment according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 and designed and adapted for installation in an inclined plane.